South America

Written By: jeff

Posted On: June 29th, 2012

Most people who travel to Colombia cover Bogotá, Cartagena and maybe Medellin. But, one of the true secrets of the country is the coffee region, called the eje cafetero in Spanish, and is being branded as the Coffee Triangle in English by the tourism folks. One of the things to do is to head to […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: June 25th, 2012

Oh George. You will be missed. I only met you briefly on my career break in the Galapagos in 2007 at your home at the Darwin Center on Santa Cruz Island. I was the one styling with the camera, the sunglasses, the daypack and the new pair of Keen’s. Yeah, I knew you’d remember. You […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: June 22nd, 2012

The old walled city of Cartagena is a mix of the old with the new. Restoration and preservation are the backdrop for the modern traveler exploring the city. There’s a lot to see while traveling in Colombia, but Cartagena gives you a chance to rest and relax in its outdoor cafes and restaurants. I don’t […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: June 15th, 2012

In a remote part of southern Colombia lies San Agustin, the hub of an ancient tribe that little is known about. This area is also a UNESCO world heritage site. because it is home to ¨the largest group of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in South America.¨ Luckily for those traveling around Colombia, you don’t […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: June 8th, 2012

The center of the La Candeleria district in Bogota is the Plaza Bolivar, one of the most visited sites for people traveling in Colombia. In addition to the Congress and Supreme Court, the Primary Cathedral of Bogota is the most striking landmark. Behind it, you can look up to see the church atop Monserrate accessible […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: June 1st, 2012

No, he’s not Juan Valdez. If you go visit the National Coffee Park near Armenia while traveling in Colombia, you will meet this guy and learn about the arrieros. An important part of Colombia’s coffee history, the arriero is the guy who took the coffee from farm to port through the Colombian mountains. One arriero […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: April 20th, 2012

If you travel to Colombia, there’s a good chance that you are planning to go to Cartagena, or at least you will want to return to see the city. On my first visit in 2008, I couldn’t believe this place. I felt transported back to the 1700s. Old architecture, hanging plants, street vendors, narrow cobblestone […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: April 13th, 2012

Last week, I showed you a typical street in La Candelaria district of Bogota. You’ll see lots of churches while traveling in Colombia, but this is one of my favorites. El Carmen Church is squarely in La Candelaria, but away from most of the rest of the popular museums and activity. You can’t usually get […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: April 6th, 2012

There are lots of places where you can feel like you’re transported back in time while traveling in Colombia. Frequent readers of the blog know that I love Villa de Leyva and Cartagena. But, even in the giant metropolis of Bogota, you can find that old feel in La Candelaria. Cobblestone streets, old architecture, old second-floor […]

Written By: jeff

Posted On: March 5th, 2012

If you’ll be in traveling to Colombia, Cartagena specifically, on April 14-15, you won’t be alone. The Organization of American States (OAS) is having its summit in the historic city. While world politics will be the talk of the town, some locals are taking it upon themselves to have fun with the event. This will […]